News Now
Wis. bankers 'mischaracterize' tax report, says league
Washington
The Wisconsin Bankers Association is mischaracterizing an advisory panel's report on possible tax law revisions by focusing on one option mentioned, according to the Wisconsin Credit Union League. 
Shared branching, cooperation helped CUs survive: Fourth of series
CU/System
As Hurricane Earl churns in the Atlantic, credit union leagues in Louisiana and Mississippi analyzed another hurricane's impact on the region's credit unions--Hurricane Katrina, which hit the coast Aug. 29, 2005. Two factors played key roles in credit unions' survival: shared branching and credit unions' cooperative nature. 
Compliance: Have 'whistleblower' policy in place
Washington
Does your credit union have a whistleblower policy? This is the opening question in Credit Union Magazine's September compliance article, "Consider Whistleblower Policy Protections." 
NCUA files amended complaint in WesCorp suit
Washington
In its roles as conservator of Western Corporate FCU ("WesCorp") and plaintiff in a lawsuit against the corporate's former directors and current and former officers, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Tuesday filed an amended complaint with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. 
Policyholders sue corporates' bond insurer, Ambac
CU/System
Ambac Financial Group Inc., a bond insurer for mortgage-backed securities whose losses contributed to losses at several corporate credit unions, has been sued by a group of hedge funds trying to block transfers of funds from its bond-insurance unit to the holding company.

Top 10 News Now stories for August
CU/System
Regulatory reform dominated the list of the top 10 News Now stories for August; however, the month's No. 1 story dealt with the Federal Open Market Committee's decision to maintain the target rate for federal funds and reinvest in mortgage-backed securities. 
Despite 'cashless society,' ATMs here to stay
CU/System
Despite predictions of a "cashless society," credit unions shouldn't neglect their ATM channels, according to data from Ovum, a New York-based unit of Datamonitor group(paymentssource.com July 20). The overall number of payments is rising. 
$136.9 million-asset First American CU closed
Washington
First American CU, a $136.9 million-asset credit union, was closed by state authorities Tuesday due to what regulators termed its declining financial condition. The National Credit Union Administration was appointed liquidating agent. 